The Things We Were SO Glad We Packed on Our Disney Cruise
Wondering what to pack for a Disney Cruise? You’re in the right place! Packing for a cruise can be a little different from packing for a regular vacation, and there are a few Disney Cruise essentials you may not realize you’ll need until you’re onboard.
We recently went on a Disney Cruise and absolutely loved it. Along the way, we discovered a few things that made our trip easier and more enjoyable—and a few things we wished we had packed before we left home!
In this guide, I’ll share our Disney Cruise packing list, including the must-haves, helpful packing tips, what to wear on a Disney Cruise, and items you’ll want to purchase before your sailing. I’ll also point out a few things you can skip so you don’t end up filling your suitcase with items you won’t use.
Whether this is your first Disney Cruise or you’re a seasoned Disney cruiser, this list will help you feel prepared before you step onboard.
Let’s go through the Disney Cruise essentials you’ll want on your packing list!
This post contains affiliate links (Including Amazon) that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you.
Disney Cruise Checklist
I want to make packing for a Disney Cruise as easy as possible. You can grab a copy of my Disney Cruise packing list.
You will get a Disney Cruise checklist as shown in the image above plus a blank sheet to add any other personal items you want to bring. This will come in an easily printable version.
In this post, we are going to focus on some of the basics but more on the Disney Cruise essentials to make your vacation more fun and enjoyable.
Let’s jump into fun ideas for a packing list for a Disney Cruise!
1. Disney Cruise Shirts
One of the best things to pack for a Disney Cruise is cute custom Disney shirts. You can find lots of design options on Etsy. There are so many great designs to choose from.
They can include your family’s last name, the specific cruise ship you are on (Wish, Dream, Wonder, Treasure…), or your favorite Disney character.
Best Things to Bring on a Disney Cruise- Matching Shirts
We love having shirts made every time we visit Disneyland, Disney World, Aulani, Disneyland Paris or go on a Disney Cruise.
Another great option is to see if Target has any options. Target usually sells Disney clothes.
2. Dress Up for Pirate Day at Sea
All Disney cruises offer a pirate night. This is a really fun night that includes the Fab Five Characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy) dressing up in pirate clothes.
There is a fun performance for younger kids earlier in the night and a late-night 1980s pirate party. The show ends and you will see the fireworks at sea. It is pretty awesome!
Dress Like a Pirate
During the day there are lots of pirate character meet and greets. It is fun to dress up. We saw lots of people dressed in awesome costumes on our Disney Cruise.
3. Dress Up for Marvel Day at Seas
Not all Disney cruise ships will have a Marvel Day at Seas. You will need to check your itinerary to see if it is on your cruise ship.
On certain sailing dates of 5 days or more on the Disney Dream, there will be a Marvel Day. This will include a lot of character meet and greets from all of your favorite superheroes and villains from the Marvel Multiverse.
There are shows, family games, and youth-themed activities on Marvel Day. You can dress up in your favorite Marvel attire. This can be added to your packing list for a Disney Cruise.
Shop Avenger Shirts for Marvel Day
4. Dress Up for Pixar Day at Seas
Some Disney Cruise ships will include a Pixar Day at Seas. This will include a lot of Pixar shows, family games, and themed activities for kids.
Dressing up for Pixar Day is fun for the whole family. You can get matching shirts, hats, or costumes. Add this to your packing list for a Disney Cruise if your ship has a special Pixar themed day.
5. Disney Cruise Ship Lanyards
If this is your first cruise, you will want to buy a lanyard for everyone in your family. These lanyards will help you keep track of your “Key to the World” card.
If you have cruised on Disney before, they may leave a special lanyard gift in your room.
If you buy a magic band and use this as your key you will not have to worry about a lanyard.
My 8-year-old loved his lanyard. It makes it so easy to keep track of. He did not lose it!
Shop Disney Lanyards for Cruise Cards
Shop Cruise Lanyards for Cruise Cards
Shop Cruise Lanyards for Cruise Cards
6. Packing List for Disney Cruise – Snorkel Gear
One of the best things to add to your Disney Cruise packing list is snorkel gear. If you are headed to Castaway Cay, it is super nice to have your own gear. Plus, it will save you a lot of money!
Castaway Cay has a special area where you can snorkel. There are fun objects beneath the water like a sunken ship and hidden Mickeys.
Shop Snorekl Gear for Disney Cruise
7. Disney Cruise Essentials – Swim Suit
One of the number one things to have when packing for a Disney Cruise is a swimsuit.
Pools and Water Coasters
There are multiple pools on the Disney Cruise ships.
There are also water slides on each Disney Cruise Ship. The AquaMouse is on the Disney Wish. The AquaDuck is on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. The AquaDunk is on the Disney Magic. The Disney Wonder has a Twist n Spout.
Castaway Cay
If you have a day at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay you will need a swimsuit for sure! Make sure to add it to your Disney Cruise packing list.
If you are packing a family for a Disney Cruise, there are so many cute Disney swimsuits for kids!
Shop for a Swimsuit forDisney Cruise
8. Disney Cruise Line Packing List – Cover Ups
If you are wondering what Disney packing essentials you need, a swimsuit coverup is super important to add to your Disney Cruise checklist.
You will wear this a lot! It is nice to have a cover-up to walk to and from the cabin room to the pool. It is also nice to wear for any shore excursions you book.
I think this is one of the most important things when packing for a Disney Cruise!
9. Packing List for a Disney Cruise – Sun Hats
A sun hat is one of the important things to pack for Disney Cruise.
When we went on a Disney Cruise in January, it wasn’t too sunny! But I am sure most times of the year you will not regret having a sun hat for protection from the sun!
There are a lot of cute Disney designs for sunhats.
10. Disney Cruise Essentials – Sun Glasses
Protect your eyes from the sun! Be sure to add sunglasses to your Disney cruise essentials list.
If you want to get your kids cute Disney-inspired sunglasses there are lots of fun options on Amazon.
11. Get Some Rubber Duckies
Rubber Duckies?? Wait, What?!! Yes, rubber duckies are a cruise thing. On almost any cruise ship you will go on you can search for rubber duckies.
My kids love searching all over the ship for these cute little rubber ducks. On our Disney Cruise, we decided to bring some to hide for other people to find. Some people will add their Twitter X or Instagram accounts on tags that are tied around the duckies.
You can buy them in bulk from Amazon. You will also want to check out all of the cruising duck groups on Facebook. There is a group for every cruise line.
This is a really fun activity if you have an at-sea day.
12. Cruise Door Decore
People love to decorate their cruise doors. It helps you know which cabin door is yours!
Make sure to add Disney decor to your Disney Cruise line packing list. It is so fun for the kids to decorate the door.
On the first day at sea, there is usually an activity for kids to color posters that can be put on the cabin doors.
13. – 17. Disney Cruise Ship Cabin Essentials
There are a lot of little things that you will want to include on your packing list for a Disney Cruise. I am going to list some Disney Cruise essentials that you should add.
Packing List for a Disney Cruise
If this is your first cruise, let me just say magnetic hooks are awesome! They are super nice to hang swimsuits and other clothes you may be wearing more than once.
A shoe holder is awesome to hang with your magnetic hooks. With a small space, finding ways to utilize it is awesome.
Power strips are really good if you are cruising on older ships. Extra USB ports are awesome to have.
I also like to have portable chargers for my phone. Most cruise lines have an app, that you will be using throughout your cruise to communicate with others. You do not want a dead phone!
A laundry bag is nice to have for your cruise cabin. You might not want to pay for laundry on the cruise ship but it is nice to have a place to put it each day when you change.
Magnetic Hooks for Cruise Cabin
18. Packing List for Disney Cruise – Shoes
It is nice to pack light for a cruise but you will need a few pair of shoes as you pack for a Disney Cruise.
I like to have a pair of flip-flops or Birkenstocks to wear most of the day. I also like a pair of tennis shoes because I always love to work out when I am on the ship. If you stop at Castaway Cay there is a Castaway Cay 5K. You will want to have some good shoes to run it!
You could also pack a nice pair of shoes if you plan to dress up for any of the dining meals. If you plan to be at the pool or on the beach you could bring some water shoes as well.
19. – 25. Disney Cruise Packing Extra Items
There are a few more Disney Cruise essentials I want to mention. These items are easy to throw in your bag at the last minute! You will be thanking yourself later!
Packing for a Disney Cruise
- Dramamine
- First Aid Kit (Bandaids)
- Passport Holder
- WaterProof Items (Phone Protector)
- Medications (Prescription and Over the Counter)
- Contact Solution
- Extra Contacts
It is good to be prepared! So when you are packing for a Disney Cruise be sure to pack the Disney Cruise essentials.
There are certain things like prescription drugs you will not want to forget but also some items such as Dramamine, and bandaids that you might not think of. Be prepared!
Shop Travel Size Frist Aid Kits
26. Disney Cruise Excursion Bags
One thing to mention, especially if this is your first cruise. You will have your luggage tagged and ready to go as you check-in. They will take your luggage to your room.
You will want to have a backpack or bag filled with things you might need immediately, such as a swimsuit, sunblock, or medication. You can also use this bag or backpack when you go on shore excursions.
Packing List for a Disney Cruise
I have a Loungefly bag which is so so cute! If you have been to Disney World or Disneyland you will see lots and lots of people who have them. There are lots of fun designs.
27. Disney Cruise Luggage
Another important thing to pack is your luggage tags. They will be mailed to you before the cruise. We forgot ours, but it wasn’t a big deal. They were able to print them for us on the spot.
Pack for a Disney Cruise
Do you have a suitcase? If you need a new one, there are lots of fun Disney-themed suitcases available. We went on a 3-day cruise so we could easily fit everything in a carry-on bag with wheels. For longer cruises, you will probably need bigger suitcases.
Packing for a Disney Cruise
Hopefully, this gives you a good idea of what to bring on a Disney Cruise.
I know packing for a Disney Cruise can be exciting, especially if you add the little extras. It will make your Disney experience that much better. If you are bringing a baby, this baby packing list will help you finish up packing for your family.
Have so much fun!
We Love to Cruise
We love family cruises. Disney is a great cruise ship for first timers. We have been not only on the Disney Wish , but also Odyssey of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. We have gone out of Orlando, Miami, and Galveston. Vancouver is a great place to start for Alaska cruises.
We have visited Thrill Water Park at Perfect Day, and have been to port stops in the Bahamas We have also hit a private island in Roatan, checked out Costa Maya to see the ruins, and visited Cozumel. Castaway Cay is awesome. On our European Cruise we have been to Barcelona, Rome, Naples, Santorini, Mykonos, and Ephesus. If your itinerary includes these stops, take a look at some of the fun tours available.
Facebook Community
If you have any questions be sure to join my Facebook Travel Community. This great community can help answer any questions you may have about your upcoming trips. Plus, I try to add any great deals or promotions that companies send me!
Have More Questions
Join the Families Who Love Disney Facebook Group. This is a great group that can help you answer your questions.
Also, the latest and coolest Disney news, products, and vacation tips are posted here weekly!
Lisa is a Utah-based family travel blogger and founder of Planning Away. She helps families plan stress-free, kid-friendly trips across the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Asia, and Canada. With firsthand experience at hundreds of destinations—from national parks and ski resorts to international adventures—Lisa shares practical guides, tips, and travel inspiration for unforgettable family vacations.
